Happy Birthday, Natalie!

Today is Natalie's first birthday.

I can't believe our sweet baby girl is one already!

She has been such a wonderful blessing in our lives. She keeps us all smiling and laughing. She is really starting to let her personality show.

She is a bit stubborn, just like her sister. She absolutely loves music and begins swaying and bouncing as soon as she hears the first beat.

She loves to do the actions to various songs, including "The Itsy Bitsy Spider", "The Wise Man Built His House", "If You're Happy and You Know It", and "This Little Light of Mine".

She can walk, but doesn't really want to...yet. I am sure that will come soon enough. She knows what a dog, cow, duck, horse, and sheep say and will do the sounds.

She has the best laugh and you can't help but try to make her laugh again just to hear it over and over. It is very cute!

She LOVES to eat and will eat just about anything you give her. She has been very good when it comes to transitioning to new things. She took a sippy cup no problem, solid foods, milk...pretty easy going.

She loves to climb!

 Adjusting to 2 little ones definitely took some time, but I can't imagine life any other way.

She really likes to swing.

I am in love with her beautiful eyes.

She loves being outside, if we are outside she is generally a very happy girl. She usually cries if we have to go back inside too quickly.

 

She is very playful and keeps herself very busy playing with toys. She really loves to sit in chairs right now and is constantly getting in and out of different chairs around the house.

She likes to do things on her own time. There is no forcing a picture! If she isn't in the mood, it ain't happenin'!

But when she is happy, she is REALLY happy!

Anastyn is still her very favorite person.

  As soon as Anastyn comes into the room, Natalie lights up and gets excited. She usually lets out a squeal of delight.

 She also gives things hugs and kisses now, I think it is absolutely precious and tell her to give things 'lovin' all the time just so I can watch her again.

I have a lot more I want to say, but I am working on her monthly picture collage so I will save some of it for that post. Hope you enjoyed the pictures of our precious, youngest daughter!

Happy Birthday, Sweetie!

She's A Walker!

Well, sort of! We are so proud of this crazy little girl! I love the squatty walk! This just makes me smile.

Halloween 2011

Anastyn was very excited to go trick or treating in our neighborhood tonight. I didn't get home from work until 6:30, so we quickly threw Ana's outfit together and decided Natalie could just keep the pumpkin shirt on that she had worn all day since she was a tad bit grumpy. I dug out a pumpkin hat for Natalie and and threw Anastyn's hair in a bun and we were ready to hit the streets. Apparently,  Anastyn was a bit tired. It seemed every picture I took she was yawning. Poor, sleepy girl.

We quickly made our way around the block in the wagon, which was loaded with blankets. Natalie started off with her bottle which made her very happy and she was all grins riding, for at least half the ride. Anastyn started off strong but quickly retreated to the wagon to be wrapped up. She got out, ran up to a house, ran back to the wagon and we covered her up. All in all, we had a really great night and had so much fun watching our little ones have a fun Halloween evening.





And this is Natalie's first Halloween. Happy First Halloween, baby girl. We loved seeing your big smile as you thoroughly enjoyed yourself. 

Trunk Or Treat 2011

We attended the 2nd annual Trunk or Treat at St. Peters Church of Christ, after services Sunday night. We had a great turnout and a chili supper to follow. Anastyn had so much fun, she really got it this year and loved saying "Trick or Treat". She did a very good job saying thank you to everyone as well. When we were on our way home she said, "Guess what?! I got SKITTLES! TWO OF THEM! It is just what I always wanted!" Haha, she can always make me laugh. I am so glad she got what she REALLY wanted! She is just getting too big. Natalie had a good time as well. She loved taking things out of the buckets and putting it in her own. Too bad she doesn't get to taste half of what she picked out! She spent most of her times sitting in the back of our car sucking on the paper of a sucker. Hey, she doesn't even know the difference...yet. Here are a few pictures from our evening.

The girls were matching fairy ballerinas. (Thanks, Devin) Anastyn was especially excited that I let her wear some makeup and loved having her hair in a bun. Yay, maybe we are turning a corner and she will start letting me fix her hair again! (hey, a mama can dream!)

Natalie also got her first real ponytail. I made sure to secure it tightly because she is sure to pull it out if at all possible. I LOVED IT! It made her blue eyes shine just a bit brighter.

Halloween 2011

Happy Halloween!

from the sweetest "ghouls" I know!

Nature Walk

A week or so ago, when it was absolutely beautiful out, I decided to take the girls on a wagon ride to pick up some pretty leaves.

 We were well prepared with water, cheerios, sunglasses and hats...and diet sundrop.

Oh, and we can't forget our jewelry. Anastyn made sure she had her ring and necklace for the ride.

We gathered some very beautiful leaves and I had this idea in my head that we would use wax to coat them and then make a leaf garland. Well I dried them but they have yet to be made into a garland. Oh, well. We had fun on our walk anyway. And I maybe I will get that garland made this weekend.

Natalie loved being able to help herself to the cheerios. And I loved getting her to keep this hat on her head. It is almost too small, sigh. And I can't resist getting a picture when I see lashes resting so sweetly on those cheeks.



I set the timer for a quick shot of me with the girls. Yes, folks, I go out in public looking like this sometimes. It is a bit embarrasing, but I wouldn't get much done if I had to get fully ready everytime I stepped outside my house. That's just the way it is!



 Natalie was enjoying playing in the grass and the leaves when we got home. Happy girl

Old Iron Works Days

I am so excited that we got to go the the Old Iron Works Days at Meramec Spring Park this year. I haven't been in a very long time and we happened to be in Belle the weekend my brother and some of our friends had planned to go. We had planned on heading home early to get some things accomplished around our house, but took a last minute detour and headed to St. James. It was just such a beautiful day we couldn't resist being outside. We met up with everyone and had a great time!

 Anastyn and her friend Hannah had fun climing on this antique piece of machinery. Sorry, I didn't read the sign, so I have no idea what it is.

 Posing for pictures...always makes me laugh!

 Natalie taking a break in daddy's arms.

Kesha and Sarah, two beautiful, pregnant ladies!

 I love this picture so much. Trent laughing, Malachi's unsure look, Nate's cute diaper bag backpack...just makes me smile.

We spent some time letting the kids play on this fun slide. Metal slides are so much better than the plastic ones they have nowadays. Much faster! (I know the plastic ones are probably safer...still not as much fun!)

 We explored the furnace and tried to get a picture of all the kids inside. This is as good as it gets. Haha! Anastyn is posing with a cracker in front of her mouth and everyone is truly doing their own thing.

 

 Can't believe this sweet thing is going to be ONE is less than a month!

WILL TIME PLEASE SLOW DOWN!? 

 Anastyn didn't get her nap in and was beyond sleepy. Hannah started playing with her hair and they stood like this for a good minutes. It was so sweet watching them. They get along so well and Anastyn was loving having her hair played with.  

 The girls practiced their balance beam skills.

We tried our hardest to walk on stilts. NOT EASY, FOLKS!

Natalie loves every minute of being outside.

Nathan, Anastyn, Natalie, and Malachi enjoying some bluegrass.

 CRACKS. ME. UP. Hahaha! I LOVE this picture.

The girls were very tired but wanted to "pose" for me.

It took a few tries to get one with some normal smiles.

That's better. What better way to spend a Saturday afternoon than with family and friends that we love dearly! Thanks for letting us tag along!